wesleynotponcy | Hotel Ramsey and Angel's Apartment | Los Angeles, CA

This time the drive was even more frantic, but they at least had some information to go on. After a few quick calls to the different Ramsey Hotels in the area, they were on their way to the right one. And Wes wasn't even all that excited anymore, just propelled by adrenaline and intent on doing this properly. And he certainly wasn't thinking about the heroic stories he would have to share with the girlfriend back at school. Or, you know, everyone. Nope, not thinking about that at all.

Finally they reached the hotel and were charging inside. There was a brief dispute with an employee who denied that there was any auction going on, and then they were racing down the stairs to the auction room. The sculpture wasn't anywhere in immediate view -- but there was a storage room just adjacent to it...

Barney	Barney looked up as Angel and Wesley barged into the storage room where he'd been, well, about to extract some seer's eyes. "Hank," he said, holding out a hand to his assistant. "Stakes." The intruders didn't look that tough, though. One of them was bouncing up and down trying to free a knife from inside his sock. One guess who.
Angel	This was the part that Angel liked. He got to hit people and it was the right thing to do. While Wes hopped, Angel punched. And kicked. And made various members of auction security say words like "Ow" and "Ow!" "Get Cordelia!" Angel told Wesley. It seemed like a good delegation of responsibility to him.
Wesley	In theory, sure, but Wes wasn't exactly the most coordinated guy. He hopped around for a bit and eventually managed to extract the knife, getting knocked over int he process. Eventually he managed to crawl his way over to Cordelia, de-gagging her and asking the utterly useless question, "Are you all right?"
Cordelia	"I'm so far not," Cordelia said grimly, flailing a bit with her still-tied hands to remind Wesley she couldn't exactly just stand up and walk away.
Wesley	"Right! Wrists!" he exclaimed intelligently, and dove for his knife again. Aaagh, crap, where'd it go?
Cordelia	"Wesley, come on!" Cordelia ordered, lurching forward in an attempt to see what Angel was doing.
Wesley	Alright, the knife thing wasn't working out. Fortunately, there was some sort of claw-type thing on the floor that he could use instead. He grabbed it and managed to saw through the ropes with it.
Cordelia	"Finally," Cordelia said in relief as she yanked her arms free. "Okay. Okay. Let's get out of here." She didn't exactly wait for an answer before she started to run off. Running beat waiting any day.
Wesley	"Follow me!" Wesley cried, even though, yeah, he was pretty much following her. He was all set to get out of there... but then he got detained by a punch in the face. Thanks, Barney. "You!" he shouted, all caught up in adrenaline. He threw back a punch of his own and actually made contact. Look at that. "Butcher an innocent girl, will you?" He adjusted his glasses and pushed them further up his nose. "I'm going to thrash you to within a inch of your life -- and then I'm going to take that inch!"

After the (surprisingly-successful) fight, Wesley went with Cordelia and Angel back to the latter's apartment to collect some things and also because he was still kind of high on the whole actually-helping-kill-a-demon thing. Going back to school would be pretty lame by comparison -- but he couldn't deny that he was eager to relate this story to as many people as possible.

So back to Angel's place it was, where he slowly packed some things up. And he was kind of waiting for a thank-you. Shh.

Cordelia	"Are you actually going back to school?" Cordy asked, in a tone of not quite understanding why he would. She frowned as she plugged in an iron, meaning to smooth out her drawing so it could be framed. "Or ... other plans?"
Wesley	Was she... ironing paper? That couldn't be a good idea. "Er," he said, caught up in the whole iron thing. "Yes, yes, I'll be back at school by this afternoon if I make the Portal in time." But he understood Cordy's bewilderment. Sunnydale trauma and so on.
Cordelia	"It's to hang in our office and remind me of a friend," Cordy said ruefully, gesturing to the iron. "And ... you should take care. Portals sound kind of demony."
Wesley	"I'll do my best," he pledged, swinging his arms idly. "Well. I'd best be off then, if I'm to make the portal in time." Because he was completely bizarre, he stuck out a hand to shake. "Cordelia. Who knows where our paths will cross again?"
Cordelia	Cordelia eyed the hand curiously, but shook it. What the hell. "Are you planning on chasing rogue demons out here again anytime soon?"
Wesley	"Very possibly," he said, completely unaware of any sarcasm or irony she might be using. "Although rogue demon hunters rarely know where their paths will go." He was thinking the library. And then maybe Kennedy's room for some gloating.
Cordelia	"But you just said you're going back to school," Cordelia pointed out flatly. Then, as if realizing there was something lacking: "Oh. Um. Keep in touch?"
Wesley	"Well, yes, but after," he said with a weary sigh. "And yes, certainly. And I wish you the best of luck with your, ah, demon-hunting business. Do feel free to contact me if you need any help with anything!" A little overly hopeful there, Wes? And he was thinking he'd skip the actual breakfast. Fandom was waiting, after all.
Cordelia	"Sure thing," Cordelia said. "Especially if Angel feels like he can use you." She frowned at a stubborn crease in her ironing. "Take care, okay?"
Wesley	"Oh, yes, absolutely," Wesley agreed. And then he stole a piece of bacon for the road. Too bad for him that it was made by a person who didn't actually eat. Good luck, Wes. "Well, I'll see you around," he said finally.
Cordelia	"Enjoy the bacon," Cordelia said, waving him off.